Stave jointing machine



Septa 20, 1932. N p SPAYD 119875955@ STAVE ,JOINTING MACHINE Filed Mar'cn 1a, 1929 5 sheets-sheet `1,

Spg 2Q, i932. N P, SPAYD l,878,550 STAVE JOINTING MACHINE Filed March 18. 1929 5 sheets-sheet 2 (ola Sept 20 1932. N. P. SPAYD 3,878,55

STAVE JOINTING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept 20, i932. N. P. SPAYD STAVE JOINTING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept 2.0, 1932.` N. P. sPAYD STAVE JOINTING MACHINE Filed March 18. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3&1? Ms Patented Sept. 20, 1932 FTD STATES NOAH 1. SPAYD, OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BLACK-CLAWSON COM- PANY, OFHAMILTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO.

s'rAvE JOINTING MACHINE Y Application filed March 18, 1929, Serial No. 347,996.

This invention relates to stave jointing machines adapted to cut the bilge sides of barrel staves or the like of different widths.

One object of the invention is the provision of a stave jointing machine of this character having novel means for automatically positioning the operating parts of the machine so that when staves of different widths are cut7 the proper curvature or bilge'will be prolo duced.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of a stave `iointing machine having a cutter adapted to be automatically rocked the proper degree about an axis which is liXed with respect to the machine while the sta-ve is being cut, the cutter being adjustably mounted to provide for changes in the bevel angle withouteect on the bilge curvature. y

Still another object is the provision of a 2o' stave jointing machine of the character mentioned in which the motion of the cutters is determined by gage members which contact with the sides of the stave, the gage members ,Y and cutters being mechanically interconnect- 'ed so that they move proportionate amounts from a normal central axis corresponding to the central axis of the stave.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a stave jointing machine in which the cutters are automatically urged towards normal positioning of minimum separation at a predetermined time in the sequence of operations after al stave has been cut, to

position the parts fora following stave.

a5" Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the discharge ed side of a stave jointing machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the feeding side of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section taken some distance above the stave position on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4; is a vertical transverse section through a part of the machine, looking toward the cutter heads, one of thek cutter-head 511 supporting members being removed;

Figs.` Sand 9 are views of staves of diterent widths to which the proper bilge has'been applied; 7 Y

Fig. 10y is a section through a series of finished staves ready to be trussed tOgetheI';

Fig. 11 is a section through a trussed barrel; and

Fig. 12 is a section4 on the line 12-12 ofy Fig.

Fig. 13 is a view of the feeding means in side elevation, parts'being'broken away for clearance in illustration.

This invention has to do with machinery for properly cutting the Asides of staves such as are used in barrels or the like,A the machine being adapted to properly-bilge and bevel the sides of stave pieces of different widths which may be fed through the machine to the cutters. The stave pieces are applied toV a feeding mechanism which carries them to and past the cutters; and stave pieces of different widths may be successively appliedto the feeding'mechanismsince the machine 1s' adapted to automatically coordinate the motion of the cutters in accordance with the width of the stavepiece to be cut.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, inV which corresponding numerals designate similar parts in the variousI views, the `machine embodies a support or fi'Xed structurel v10 supporting the various operating parts of the machine. This support, as vshown in Fig. 1, embodies suitable bearings 11 which carry transverse shafts 12. one of which is provided at the discharge side of the machine the other being at the feeding side or forward end of the machine, and each of which carries a sprocket wheel 13 meshing with a sprocket chain 14 bv means of which the staves are fed through themachine. Preferably the bearings for the shaft 12 at the feeding end of the machine are adjustably mounted in some suitable manner to provide a take-up for looseness inthe chain. The sprocket chain 14 after passing over the forward sprocket wheel 13 to the rear sprocket wheel 13 passes downwardly and forwardly and engages and drives a sprocket wheel 15 provided on a shaft 16. The sprocket chain then passes on "continuously to the sprocket wheel 13 first mentioned. The shaft 16 has an additional sprocket carrying a synchronizing chain 18 engaging a second sprocket on the shaft 12 at the discharge end `of the machine to properly interconnect these two shafts in timed relationship even if there is slackness in the feeding chain 14. The feeding sprocket chain 14 is provided with a series v of stavey andengaging members Vor projec- Ytions 17 regularly spaced apart along the i chain a distance somewhat in excess of the length of the staves so that a stave may be inserted above the chain between adjacent members 17 and the stave will then be pushed along by the rearmost of these members. A

' stave'piece which is to be provided with the and any tendency of the chain to sag between the two sprocket wheelsv13 isrprevented by the surface track which supports the chain. The projections 17 onthe chain each have a forwardly hooked upper end 19 fitting over the stave to maintain its engagement with the stave being pushed.

The stave supporting members V21 and 22 are shown ixed on vthe machine support 10, and their vouter upper edges are spacedapart i ay distance preferably somewhat less than the width of narrow staves so that the staves, which are fed through the machine with their concave sidesfacing downwardly, rest uponl .Y these edges. As shown in Fig. 12 the upper sides of these members 21 and 22 are grooved lengthwise to provide a series of ridges or edges which embed themselves somewhat inA the under surfaceof the stave and thus'form aligning meanskeepingY the stave traveling in the same straight line as it moves to and past the cutters. Preferably the tops of the ridges or aligning edges conform to the stave curvature, as shown.

The staves are held down against the stave supporting members during the passage of the staves through the machine by means of spring pressed clamping members 24shown in the form of clamp pieces 25 of inverted U-shaped pressed downwardlyby means ofI springs 26 which engage fixed studs 27 carried by a suitable support bar 28 which extends through the machine longitudinally and is preferably adj ustably xed to the machine. The bar 28, as shown in Fig. 1, may be adjusted vertically to provide for the proper holding of staves of different thicknesses by means of adjusting bolts 29 fixed to the bars 28 and adj ustably positioned by suitable hold- Ving nuts on a series of holding brackets 30 on the machine. Each U-shaped clamp piece 25 may be raised or lowered individually with respect to the carrying bar 28 against the tension of the springs 26 by suitable adjusting screws 31 threaded in the clamp members and engaging the carrying bar. The projections 17 of the chain pass between the spaced downwardly extending sides of the U-shaped clamp pieces 25 and the latter are provided in a series directly over the feeding chain 14 on both the feeding and discharge sides of the machine. The staves will thus be held down tightly against the stave supporting members, and due to the series of aligning edges of the stave supporting members which form slight grooves or depressions in the stave parallel to the staves longitudinal axis the straightforward travel of the stave is insured.

As will be more apparent from Fig. 1, the feeding chain 14 may obtain its power from a gear 32 on shaft 12, this gear engaging a pinion which is fixed to a fly-wheel 33 carried on shaft 34. Shaft 34 enters a gear casing 35 containing suitable speed reducing gears, power being supplied to the gears by means of a pulley 36 or any other suitable source of driving power. The endless feeding chain is thus caused to movecontinuously and uniformly through the machine and convey the staves to and past the cutters.

On the feeding side of the machine the latter ispreferably provided with means for sawing the edges of the stave pieces to remove surplus or rough edges and provide straight parallel sides on thestave piece continuously from one end to the other. The saws may be rotatable disc saws 37 and 38 one of which is provided on each side of the machine so that both sides of a stave piece may be sawed simultaneously as the feeding chain pushes the stave Vpieces towards the bilge cutters.

Preferably the rotatable disc saws are di-v rectly connected to the rotatable armatures of individual electric motor drives 40 and 41, the armatures of which are adapted to bc moved axially equal amounts towards and away from the stave, the position of the armatures being controlled by a rock shaft 42 which is adapted to be operated by a suitable control lever 43. On the end of the rock shaft 42 is fixed a lever 44 which-is 'suitably connected as by a-slide-block to an operating rack meshing with a pinion engaging a second j rack each of the racks being connected to an armature bearing trame of the two saw motors so that` the two armatures will be moved corresponding amounts in opposite directions when the rock shaft 42 is moved laterally. Each armature bearing frame preferably rests upon suitable rollers or the like pro-videdparallel to the motor axis at the bottom of the motor housings as shown in Figs l and 2. The hand lever 43 is pivotally 30"' connected to the shaft 42 at 45 so that when moved laterally it carries with it the sleeve 46 to which are lixed suitable arms as shown, pivoted to the bars 47 which are connected at their ends to a guide-rail 48. This guide-rail is adapted to guide one side of the stave piece in its movement to the saws, and by rocking the control lever 43 laterally to position the saws,`the guide-rail 4.8 is also properly posi-v tioned so that a small strip may be cut from 263 both sides of the stave piece to remove the inferior portion ot the wood. However the construction is such that the sleeve 46 and lever 43 are interconnected by bevel gears, not shown, so that when the lever 43 is moved longitudinally about its pivot 45 on the shaft 42 the guide-rail 43 is set independently ot the saws to provide for the removal ot a larger portion of wood from one side ofthe stave piece than from the other.

363' After the stave pieces have been properly sawed, they continue their rearward movement and engage gage members or chip breakers 50 and 5l which are'torced apart by the f u nentering end ot the stave piece 20, see Fig. 3.

- These gage members are interconnected with the two bilge cutters so that the latter are positioned and adapted to be moved in correspondence with the width of the stave. The

cutters, as shown in Fig. 4, are rotatable bladed members 53 having4 a series ot cutting edges adapted to engage the sides ot the stave. |The edges may be straight to give a iiat surface on the stave side, or they may be I serrated or ridged to cut longitudinal grooves or serrations in the stave. rlhe cutters are carried on shafts 54 which are each rotated by a suitable source of power, these shafts as herein shown being directly connected 4 to the rotors of individual electric motors 55. The motor housings 56 are mounted fixed to brackets 57 provided on plates 53. The plates 58 are provided with arcuate projections 59each seating in an arcuate recess Aor groove '60 in the two cutter-head supporting members 6l one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. Bolts 62 provided on the plates 58 extend through arcuate slots 63 in the cutterhead supporting members 6l, and by means of these bolts the plates 58 may be fastened firmly to the cutter-head supporting me fibers 61 in adjusted position, the adjustment being such that each cutter-head as a whole may be moved about Van axis 65 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of thestavel 55 and` substantially corresponding with both the top of the stave side and the inside cutting edge of the cutter. rlhis permits some adjustment of the angle of cut or bevel, the relative adjustment of the cutter-head with respect to the cutter-head supporting members which carry it permitting the parts to be set so that the bevel at the widest part oitl the stave is substantially radial of the barrel they will form or at a slight angular displacement from a radial line so the staves when assembled may be in tighter engagement at the inside of a joint than the outer side, changes in the setting of the cutter-heads with relation to the cutter-head supporting members, however, has no eect on the bilge or curvature provided on the sides of the staves, and

as the point 65 about which the cutter-heads' are adjusted is at the top edge of the stave, it is possible to cut the stave without removing any ot the material from the longitudinal center of the stave at the outer edge of a side, and leave a very small portion of uncut wood at this point as proof of the proper cutting action.

rlhe 'cutter-head supporting members 6l are each pivoted for rocking movements on the support l0, their pivotal axes being coincident as indicated at 64. The axis 64 is spaced from a stave being cut preferably a distance somewhat in excess of the radius ot the barrel which may be built up from a series of such staves, and it will be apparent that the cutter-heads fixed to the cutter-head supporting members, when moves apart, accommodate a wide stave and cut the edges of the stave on a greater included angle than for narrower staves, as when narrower staves are being cut the cutterheads would be positioned proportionately closer together. The bevel on the stave edges thus approximately corresponds with a radial line ot the barrel formed bysuch staves, as the staves when assembled are trussed to increase the curvature of the stave transversely. Preferably when assembled into a barrel the de enges of the staves are crushed tightly: together to form a tight structure. Thus as shown in Fig. 10 the staves before being trussed together are in Contact along their inner sides andare somewhat more shallow in transverse curvature than when forced to the trussed form as indicated by' Fig. ll rllhe trussing bands draw the staves in to iucrease their curvature and crush the inside edges together tightly so that, when trussed the staves will be tight on Vthei: outer edges as well as perfectly tight on their inner edges. y

The bilge or curvature ot the edge of the stave is provided by rocking the cutter-head supporting members about the axis 64 during the cutting ot the stave and the angular rocking movement of the cutter-head supporting members is made greater for wider staves than it is tor narrower staves so that widerv staves,as shown'in Fig. 9, will have a greater bilge than a narrower stave such as shown in Fig. 8. Thus wide and narrow staves may be used indiscriminately in the construction 5.? of a barrel while maintaining the proper uniform curvature of the symmetrical barrel.

The cutter-head supporting members 61 are initially positioned by the gage members 50 and 51 as the entering end of a stave piece 10,20 is forced between the gage members and spreads them, the gage members being normally positioned a minimum distance apart preferably somewhat less than the narrowest stave that is intended to be cut by the machine.

1.53 The gage members 50 and 51, which are preferably flared toward the entering edge of the stave as shown in Fig. 8, are supported for sliding movement, each being shown fastened adj ustably to a carrying plate 66 which 202m turn is guided for reciprocatory movement on the support 10. A bolt 67 threaded in plate 66 extends through a slot 68 in each gage member 50 and provides for sliding adjustment of the gage member with respect Zto the carrying plate, the bolt serving to fasten them rigidly together in adjusted position. The carrying plate 66 of gage member 50 is connected by means of a pin 69 to a horizontally movable slide 70 which is 3Yslidable in guideways 71 in the support 10. The carrying plate of gage member51 is also pinned at 7 3 to a slide 74 shown below slide 70 in Fig. 4. The two slides 70 and 74 are thus caused to move in opposite directions V-when the two gage members- 50 and 51 are moved, these slides together with a lever 76 operably interconnected at 77 and 78 to the two slides forming an equalizing means for the gage members and causing them to move -corresponding amounts from their normal positions. r1`he connections at 77 and 78 are shown as pivotal connections to slide-blocks 80 which are slidably mounted in the lever 76 the latter being pivoted at 81 to the support g5-T10. As the distance between the shaft 81 and the interconnection points 77 and 78 is equal, and as the two pins 73 and 69 are symmertically arranged with respect to the stave, the movements of the two gage mem- -bers are thus equalized and coordinated.

Then the forward endof a stave to be cut enters between the gage members the latter are moved apart and as their lmotion is equalized the entering end of the stave is 5 immediately centered if it is not already perfectly centered on the stave supporting members.

The pins 7 3 and 69 which connect the gage members to the slides 74 and 70 also serve to interconnect the latter with the cutter-head supporting members 61, the pins extending through holes in the slides 74 and 70 and carrying slide-blocks 83 sliding in guide slots 84 in the cutter-head supporting members 61.

The cutter-head supporting memb-ers thus of the gage members 50 and 51 as the latter j are moved apart a distance corresponding to the width of the stave piece 20. This movement of the gage members 50 and 51 is eifective through the slides 74 and 70 in properly setting an adjustable rock member 85 with respect to a slide frame 86, see Figs. 4, 5 and 7. The rock member 85 is pivotally connected at 87 to the reciprocatory frame 86, and the latter is guided vertically lfor sliding movement in the support 10. Preferably the connection 87 at the lower end ofthe rock member 85 is adjustable in a suitable slot in the frame 86 so that slight increase or decrease in the theoretically proper bilge or curvature of the stave may, if desired, be provided. Vertical movement of frame 86 is effected by means of a rotatable cam 95 having cam portions 88 and 89vwhich are engaged by rollers 90 and 91 respectively carried by the frame 86 and an extension piece 92 which is adjustably fastened to that frame by adjusting screw 96 and holding screw 97 The holding screw 97 passes through slot 98 in the extension piece to provide for vertical adjustment of the latter when the cam is replaced by another designed for a stave of different length. Extension piece 92 is readily removable to permit cam replacements.

The two cam portions 88 and 89 are of complementary form so that the rollers are maintained in engagement with their respective cam portions and positively move the frame 86 as the cam is rotated. The cam 95 is fixed to drive shaft 16 driven by sprocket wheel 15 which in turn is engaged by the feeding chain 14 as previously mentioned, the cam portions 88 and 89 thus moving in timed relation-withrthe movements of the feeding chain. The cam surface is so designed, as shown in Fig. 6, that the frame 86 will be moved downwardly and then immediately returned upwardly. during the time the cutter is operating on the stave, and after the upward movement of the frame 86 the latter remains stationary `for some period of time duringv which the next succeeding stave approaches the cutter. During the reciprocation of the frame 86, the

rock member 85 moves with it, these two parte being clamped together during their vertical movements by means of a spring pressed clamping member 99 which is pressed against a pin 100 by means of spring 101, pin 100 pushing a brake surface 102 on the frame 86 against the upper end 103 of the rock member 85. Clamping member 99 is pivotally supported on a pin 99Y provided in the part 86 on frame 86, and carries a tail 104 which is free during greater part of the vertical movements of the frame 86 and member 85 and while the part 105 of the cam is effective on the rollers, but when the parts are in their uppermost position` corresponding to the time the roller 90 engages the concentric surface 105 of the cam 88, the tail 104 of the clamping member is held down by reason of its engagement with a Vstop screw 106 carried bythe support 10,

thus releasing the member 85 from frame 86 to permit resetting operations of the gage members and their connected slides 74 and T0. The rise 105 vof the cam is effective on frame 86 to operate the clamping member. The rock member 85 together with the frame 86 move down, return, and then remain still during the time the feeding chain 14 travels a distance corresponding to the space between adjacent stave pushing projections or members 17. This movement of the rock member and frame operates the slides 74`and T by reason of a slide block and pin connection between slide 74 and rock member 85, the latter being shown provided with an inclined guide slot 107 in which is guided the slide block 108 which is pivotally connected at 109 to the lower slide 74. Vertical movement of member 85 when fixed to the slide frame 86 thus causes endwise or horizontal movement of slides 74 and 70. As the motion of the two slides 70 and 74 is equalized,

Y of course both of these slides are positively moved equal amounts during the vertical movement of the frame 86, and both cutterhead supporting members are` rocked about their common axis 64 to properly bilge the sides of the stave. The initial setting of the gage members and 51 when forced apart by the stave piece 20 moves the slide 74 at a time when the rock member 85 is not clamped to frame 86 and when it is at rest at its uppermost position, so that as the slide 74 moves outwardly the rock member 85 will move pivotally about its connection 87 to a new setting dependent upon the width of the stave, thus increasing the angularity of the slot 107 and consequently increasing the amount the slides 74 and 70 and the cutters will subsequently be moved. After being properly positioned with respect to the slide 86 the member 85 starts to move down with frame 86 and the initial movement releases tail 104 of the clamp whereupon the parts 85 and 86 are fixed together. In this way the degree of movement of the cutter head supporting members is so coordinated with the width of the stave that the latter is provided 4with the proper bilge. It will be apparent that the bilge curvature is dependent upon the angular movement of the cutter-heads about the axis 64. Adjustments of the angular setting of the cutters with respect to the cutter-head supporting members will thereforehave no effect upon the bilge curvature. as controlled from the operating mechanism which has been previously described. The cutter-heads may be set on the cutter-head supporting members so that the edges of the staves are properly beveled to provide the proper closel lit when the staves are trussed together. If it is found that when the staves are trussed the outer edges of the stave sides do not come tightly in contact the angularity or inclination of the cutters may be slightly increased by first loosening the nuts on the holding boltsy 62 and then moving the cutter-heads about the point corresponding to the outer edge ofthe stave, after which the nuts on the bolts 62 aretightened again. This provides a Very .simple adjustment for the cutters for ladjustment of the angle of the bevel without interfering at all with the bilge curvature of the'stave. For any position of the adjustment of the cutters with respect to the cuttingehead supporting members the operator of the machine can ascertain that the apparatus is functioning properly as the proof or uncut smallportion at the outer edge of the middle of the stave is always present if the cutters arey properly coordif nated with the gage members and the device functioning in the intended manner.

`The shaft 16 which is driven as previously mentioned from the feeding chain A14, in turn drives a shaft 115 by means of suitable gearing 116. This shaft 115 is keyed to a sleevef 117 having a `grooved shifting collar 118 bymeans of which endwise movement ofthe sleeve 117 can be effected. Sleeve 117 is fixed to a clutch face 118 which is adapted to be clutched to a driven clutch member 119 carried by shaft 120`suitably journaled at 121 in an arm 122 of .support 10. When the sleeve 117 is movedto the right as viewed Y in Fig. 7 the two clutch members are engaged, andthe s haft is frictionally driven to cause partof a rotation of wheel 123 which is fixed to shaft 120. The left-hand end of shaft 115, as seen in Fig. 7, is rotatably mountedin the end of shaft 120. On the peripheral surface of wheel 128 is fixed one end. of a transmission member or cable 124, the other end of which is fastened to a segment 125 fixed bva suitable key'or the like to thesh aft 81 which is fixed to the equalizing lever 7 6. Movement of the sleeve 117 to engagethe clutch is effected periodically by means of an arm 127 operating in the groove of the shifting collar 117, arm 127 being pivoted at 128 to the support 10 and fixed to a shift lever 129 carrying a roller or the like 130. This roller is adapted to ride on the side 131 of cam'95, a suitable cam projection 132 being provided on this surface which pericable 124 which rocks the equalizing lever 76 and moves both slides 74 and 70, gage members '50 and 51, and the cutter-head supportin g members A61 back to their normal inoperative positions corresponding to the position of minimum separation of the gage members. This return of the parts to their normal positions takes place if there is no following stave ready to be cut.v The cam 132is effective in causing this return movement of the parts to their normal inoperative positions afterthe cutters have completed their work on the edges of the stave and preferably after the next or following stave enters between the gage members so that in normal operation when a number of staves of the same width are fed through the machine successively the forward end of a stave is between the gage members when the clutch becomes effective, the result being merely an inward thrust on thev gage members with practically no movement of the parts. A wide stave would move the gage members from the position to which they were adjusted by the stave it follows yafter the cut on the first stave was comfpleted. A narrower stave entering between the gage `members after a wider stave would limit the inward movement of the gage members when the clutch becomes effective. Such an arrangement of the parts is desirable as the motion and wear of the operating parts is minimized. The clutch may slip after the gage members and cutters are returned to their position of minimum separation or to a position where the gage members engage the forward end of a stave. The cam projection 132 being quite short in length provides for a clutch engagement of very limited duration, just enough to move the gage members and their connected parts inwardly, or to iirmly press the gage members against the oncoming stave. i The return of the parts to their normal 1noperative positions is eected bythe clutch at a time when the rock member 85 and the i frame 86 are in their uppermost positions and the clamping means between those parts is disengaged, this return movement of the parts also serving to return the rock member 85 to its normal position with respect to thelframe 8'6'where it, too, is ready to be moved in accordance with the next succeeding stave width to cause the proper vangular movements of the cutter-head members. After the roller 130 46 rides off of cam 132 the clutch releases itself and at the Sametime the frame 86 is clamped to movable member 85.

When the cutters and gage members are positioned to accommodate a wide stave the weight of the rather heavy motors and cutter-headsV may exert a large force tending to spread the gage members. Counterbalancing means, therefore, may be provided as shown in Fig. 5 (the counterbalance being omitted in Figs. land 7). This` counterbalance for the cutter-heads is shown as a weight 146 adjustably held on an arm 147 which is pivoted at 148 to the support 10. Arm 147 is fixed to awheel 149 around which is partly wrappedV a cable 150 connected to the upper end of the equalizing lever 76 and connected at 151 to wheel 149. The weight 146v is thus swung upwardly as the cutter-heads are swung outwardly and the latter are thus counterbalanced to some extent, permitting the use of aclutch of comparatively small power.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the normal inoperative position of thel gage member 51 is indicated at 140 in dotted lines, the position of the gage member when engaged by stave being indicated in full lines at 141. When a very Vwide stave is forced between the gage members the member 51 will be moved to a position shown in dotted lines at 142. The positioning of the cutter for these three settings of the gage member 51 is indicated at 140', 141 and 142 in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4 the side of an end of the stave 2O being cut is indicated by the line 141e, while the lines 140erl and 1420i indicate the corresponding lines ofthecutter or stave end corresponding to the positions 140 and 142 of the gage member 51 previously referred to. The angular movement of the cutting head supporting members forV positions 140e, 141a and 1420i may also be indicated by the lines 1406, 1415 and 142?) drawn through the center of the pin connection 73 with the slide 74. It will be apparent from these various positions of the cutters and of the gage members that the cutting-head supporting members are moved by the gage members when the latter are initially set by the stave so that the start of the cut on the stave side is a proper distance from the central axis of the stave, and as the angular movement of the cutting-head supporting members` for wider staves is corresponding greater than for narrower staves from the initial setting position. the stave will be given a bilge curvature that is properly coordinated with its width. The machine thus automatically provides theproper bilge on staves of different widths so. that wide and narrow staves may be used in any desired manner in the construction of a barrel.

While the formv of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be'understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that-changes may be made therein Without departing from the scope of the invention Which is defined in the appended claims.

' Vhat is claimed is:

l. A stave jointing machine adapted to cut the edges of staves of different Widths com- `:rising a fixed support, cutters, a cutter head supporting member for each cutter pivotally mounted directly on said support for movement about a fixed axis, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by a sta-ve end for initially sett-ing said cutter heads in accordance With the Width 0f a stave, mechanism interconnecting the cutter head supporting members for similar simultaneous angular movement from adefinite normal position and means in constant driving connection with said feeding means for pivotally moving said cutter heads on said support during the cutting of the stave through angles proportionate to the initial setting of the gage members.

2. A stave jointing machine comprising a fixed support, cutters, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted directly on said support for movement about a fixed axis,feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members movably mounted on said support and adapted to be forced apart by a stave end, cutter heads carrying said cutters and supported on said supporting members,;means interconnecting said gage members and said cutter heads for initially setting said cutter heads like amounts from definite normal positions in accordance with the Width of the stave, and means in constant driving connection with said feeding means for pivotally moving said cutter heads on said support during the cutting of the stave through angles proportionate to the initial setting of the gage members.

3. A stave jointing machine comprising a fixed support, cutters, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted directly on said support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members reciprocally mounted directly on said support and adapted to be forced apa-rt by a stave end, cutter heads carrying said cutters and supported on said supporting members, means definitely interconnecting said gage members with one another and Vinterconnecting said gage members and cutter heads for -i initially setting said cutter heads in accordance with the width of the stave, and means in constant driving connection With said feeding means for pivotally moving said cutter heads like amounts from definite norma-l positions on said support during the cutting of the stave through angles proportionate to the initial setting of the gage members.

. il. A stave jointing machine adapted to cut the edges of staves of di'erent Widths comprising a fixed support, cutters, cutter head supporting vmembers pivotally mounted on a common axis directly on said support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, page members movably mounted on said support adapted to be forced apart by a stave end for initially setting said cutter heads in accordance with the Width of a stave, and means in constant driving connection With said feeding' means for pivotally moving said cutter heads like amounts from denite normal positions on said support during the cutting of the stave through angles proportionate to the initial setting of the gage members.

5.. A stave jointing machine comprising a fixed support, cutters, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted on said support for moving about a common axis fixed With relation to said support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members movably mounted on said support and adapted to be forced apart by a stave end, cutter heads carrying said cutters and supported on said supporting members, and means interconnecting said gage members and said cutter heads and definitely interconnecting said cutter heads With one another for initially setting said cutter heads in accordance With the Width of the stave, and means in constant driving connection With said feeding means for moving said cutter heads about said common laxis during the cutting of the stave.

6. A stave jointing machine comprising a support, a feeding mechanism for moving staves through the machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by the initial end of the moving stave, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted on said support, cutter heads pivotally supported on said members, cutters supported thereby, the pivotal axes of the cutter' heads substantially coinciding with the upper edges of a stave piece being cut, and means connecting said supporting members to said gage members for movement therewith.

7. A stave jointing machine comprising Va support, a feeding mechanism for movingk staves through the machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart *by the initial `end of the moving stave, equalizing means mechanically interconnecting said gage members for moving the gage members equal amounts in opposite directions from a normal positioning, cutter heads supporting members pivotally mounted on a fixed common center on said support, cutter heads pivotally supported on said members, cutters supported thereby, the pivotal axes'of the cutter heads each substantially coinciding with a line parallelto the stave axis and a pointin the cutting face of the cutter which cuts the top of a stave side, and means connecting said supporting members to said gage members for movement therewith.

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8. A stave jointing machine-comprising a fixed support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through the machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by the initial end of a moving stave, equalizing means for moving the gage members equal amounts in opposite directions upon entrance of the stave end betweenl said gage members, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted on a fixed common center on said support, cutter heads supported on said members, cutters supported thereby, means connecting said cutter head supporting members to said gage members for movement therewith,- a frame reciprocally mounted on said support, means in driving connection with said feeding mechanism for periodically7 moving said frame, a member adjustably mounted on said frame, connecting means for transmitting movement of said equaliziiig means to said adjustable member, clamping means for periodically holding said movable member to said frame, said adjustable member being adapted upon reciprocal movement to move said connecting means for movement of said equalizing means and cutters.

9. A stave jointing machine comprising a fixed support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through the machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by the initial end of a moving stave, equalizing means for moving the gage members equal amounts in opposite directions upon entrance of the stave end between saidv gage members, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted directly on said support, cutter heads supported on said members, cutters supported thereby, means connecting said cutter head supporting members to said gage members for movement therewith, a frame slidably mounted on `said support, means in driving connection with said feeding mechanism for periodically moving said frame, an adjustable member pivotally mounted on said frame, connecting means for transmitting movement of said equalizing means to said adjustable member, and clamping means for periodically holding said adjustable member to said frame during frame movement, said pivotally adjustable member being adapted to move the connecting means for movement of said cntters upon movement of said frame.

10. A stave jointing machine comprising a support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through the machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by the initial end of a moving stave, equalizing means for moving the gage members equal amounts in opposite directions comprising a reciprocatory slide connected to each gage member and a pivoted lever interconnecting said slides, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted on a fixed common center on said support, cutter heads supported on said members, cutters supported thereby, means connecting said cutter head supporting members to said gage members for movement therewith, a frame slidably mounted on said support, means in driving connection with said feedingmechanism for periodically moving said frame, an adjustable movable member pivoted to said frame, means interconnecting said adjustable member with one of said slides for transmitting movement of said equalizing means to said adjustable member, and a clamping means for automatically connecting said adjustable member to said frame during movement of said frame for movement of said interconnecting means.

'11. A stave jointing machine adapted t0 cut the edges of stavesfof different widths comprising a iixed support, cutter hea-ds, cutters positioned thereon, cutter head supporting members therefor movably mounted on said support for movement about a xed axis, means for feedingstaves through said machine, means for moving said cutter head supporting members during the cutting of a stave to'bilge the sides of the staves, gage members positioned on opposite sides of a stave, means connecting said gage members to said cutter head supporting membersto position said members in accordance with the width of a stave, and means in driving engagement with said feeding means for urging said gage members towards one another after a stave-has been cut and aftera following stave has its forward end between the gage members. l

A12. A stave jointingmachine adapted to cut the edges 'of staves of different widths comprising a' fixed support, cutters, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted directly on said support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by a stave end for initially setting said cutter heads in accordance with the width of a. stave, means in driving connection with said feeding means for pivotally moving said cutter heads on said support during the cutting of the stave through angles proportionate to the initial setting of the gage members, and clutch controlling means connected to the feeding mechanism for periodically moving the gage members towards each other. o

18. A stave j ointing machine comprising a fixed support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through the machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by the initial end of a moving stave, equalizing means for moving the gage members equal amounts in opposite directions upon entrance of the stave end between said gage members, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted on a fixed common center on said support, cutter heads pivotally supported on said members, cutters supported thereby, means connecting said cutter head supporting members to said to said frame during frame movements for movement of said interconnecting means, and means positively actuated by the feeding mechanism for returning the gage members and cutter heads to a position of minimum separation.

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14. A stavejointing machine adapted to cut the edges of staves of dierent widths comprising a fixed support, cutters, cutter head supporting members pivotally mounted directly on said support, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members adapted to be forced apart by a stave end for initially setting said cutter heads in accordance with the width of a stave, means in constant driving connection with said feeding means for pivotally moving said cutter heads on said support during the cutting of the stave through angles proportionate to the initial setting of the gage members,

, said means comprising a continuously operating driving member, a periodically moving member operated thereby, means adjustably connecting said moving member to said gage members in accordance with the space between said gage members. means for maintaining said connection during elective operation of said moving member, and means for automatically releasing said maintaining means after the stave has been cut.

15. A stave jointing machine adapted to cut the edges of staves of different widths comprising a fixed support, a pair of rotatable cutters, a pair of electric motors each having an armature connected directly -to a cutter, a motor support for each motor movably mounted on said fixed support for movement about a common fixed axis, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members on said machine adapted to be forced apart by a stave end for initially setting said motor supports in accordance with the width of a stave, and means in constant driving connection with said feeding means for equally moving said motor supports in opposite directions during the cutting of a stave amounts proportionate to the width of the stave.

16. A stave jointing machine adapted to cut the edges of staves of different widths comprising a fixed support, a pair of rotatable cutters, a pair of electric motors each having an armature connected directly to a cutter, a motor support for each motor pivotally mounted directly on said fixed support on a common axis spaced from the cutters,

feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members on said machine adapted to be forced apart by a stave end for initially setting said motor supports in accordance with the width of a stave, and means in constant driving connection with said feeding means for equally moving said motor supports in opposite directions during the cutting of a stave through amounts which are proportionate to the width of the stave.

17. A stave jointing machine adapted to cut the edges of staves of different widths comprising a fixed support, a pair of rotatable cutters, a pair of electric motors each having an armature connected directly to a cutter, a motor support for each motor pivotally mounted directly on said fixed support on a common axis spaced from the cutters, feeding mechanism for moving staves through said machine, gage members on said machine adapted to be forced apart by a stave end for initially setting said motor supports in accordance with the width of a stave, means in constant driving connection with said feeding means for equally moving said motor supports in opposite directions during the cutting of a stave through amounts which are proportionate to the width of the stave, and means for adj ustably setting each motor to its motor support to provide for adjustment of the angle of the cutter withv respect to the plane of the stave.

In testimony whereof I hereto ax my sig nature.

NOAH P. SPAYD. 

